Big Lessons in Asia

So what did we do in China for a week? We learned first-hand why China is such a big issue for all types of businesses.

Probably the most insightful thing any of our guest lecturers and professors told us is “please, give us time.” China is in full gallop trying to catch up with the rest of the developed world. Their manufacturing capabilities seem endless, and their massive population is a marketer’s dream. With all of this action, they’re still trying to figure out huge issues like pollution, government intervention and intellectual property rights.

Here’s a rough schedule from our trip.

Monday, March 14

8:15 a.m. Bus departs for Tsinghua University

Morning sessions at School of Economics & Management, WeiLun Bldg., room 508.

9-10:30 a.m. Lecture #1: “Demystifying China: Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies,” presented by Roy Perrin, First Secretary, Economic/Labor Officer, U.S. Dept. of State and Landon Loomis, Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy, Beijing

10:45 a.m.-12 p.m. Lecture #2: “An American Entrepreneur in China,” presented by Brett Gentry, Owner, Laowai’s

12 p.m. Bus departs for lunch at local restaurant and city tour (bus will stop at hotel to pick

up guests)

12:30-1:30 p.m. Lunch at Zhong Jia Chan Restaurant

1:30 p.m. City tour and orientation to Beijing

Forbidden City and Tian’an men Square

4 p.m. Bus departs for hotel

Tuesday, March 15

8:15 a.m. Bus departs for Tsinghua University

Morning sessions at School of Economics & Management, WeiLun Bldg., room 508.

9-10:30 a.m. Lecture #3: “Private Equity and Venture Capital in China,” presented by Jia Ning, Professor, School of Economics and Management (SEM)

10:45 a.m.-12 p.m. Conclusion of lecture by Prof. Ning

12-12:15 p.m. Walk to Laowai’s for lunch

12:15-1:45 p.m. Lunch

2-3:30 p.m. Lecture #4: “China’s Economic Trends,” presented by Hu BiLiang, Professor of Economics and Dean of the School of Economics and Resource Management Beijing Normal University

3:45-5 p.m. Conclusion of lecture by Prof. BiLiang

Wednesday, March 16

8:30 a.m. Bus departs for Summer Palace & Great Wall

9 a.m. Arrive at Summer Palace

11 a.m. Depart for Great Wall, Mutianyu side

12:30-2 p.m. Lunch at Xinshuangquan Restaurant

2-4:30 p.m. Touring and shopping at Great Wall (lift & slide tickets included)

Thursday, March 17

Buses depart for two company visits:

7:30 a.m. Check in with your group rep & board bus

8 a.m. Bus #1 departs – (Groups 1-10)

ICBC, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (45 person limit)

No.55 FuXingMenNei Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, P.R.C

Speaker: Ms. Weijing Wang, Head of International Financial Institutions, Americas, Asia, and Oceania

9:30-10:30 a.m. ICBC visit and executive briefing

8:15 a.m. Check in with your group rep & board bus

8:45 a.m. Bus #2 departs – (Groups 11-20)

Ogilvy & Mather China

Address: Address: 9th Floor, Huali Building, 58 Jinbao Street, Beijing

Speaker: Scott Kronick, President of Ogilvy PR North Asia

10-11 a.m. Ogilvy & Mather visit and executive briefing

11 a.m. Bus departs for lunch

11:30-1 p.m. Lunch

1:15 p.m. Bus departs for Baidu

Address: Baidu Campus, No. 10, Shangdi 10th Street Haidian District, Beijing

Speaker: Kaiser Kuo, Department of Investor Relations Director

2-4 p.m. Company visit and executive briefing

Friday, March 18

8:15 a.m. Bus departs for Tsinghua University

Morning sessions at School of Economics & Management, WeiLun Bldg., room 508.

9-10:30 a.m. Lecture #5: “Chinese Culture and Values,” presented by Jiang Chun, Associate Professor, School of International Studies, University of International Business & Economics

10:45 a.m.-12 p.m. Conclusion of lecture by Prof. Chun

12 p.m. Bus departs for lunch

12:30-1:30 p.m. Lunch at Yanmingyuan Restaurant

1:30 p.m. Bus departs for Tsinghua University

2-3:30 p.m. Lecture #6: “Chinese Technology and Innovation Initiatives,” presented by Gao Xudong, Professor at the School of Economics and Management (SEM)

3:45 p.m. Bus departs for hotel

Farewell Dinner (Business Casual)